Proceeding With Caution and Sensitivity: Ethical and legal concerns

A journalist must toe a thin line between revealing compelling, relevant details in a sexual abuse story and protecting the victim’s privacy, as well as the person’s emotional and physical safety.

Lombardi blocks out large chunks of time when she interviews a victim, so she can give the person space to slowly open up. Her advice: Don’t initially ask too many questions; let the person talk freely, then gently steer the conversation toward the subject of the abuse. Offer the person the option of using a pseudonym. Lombardi says that in most cases, those who first prefer to talk on the condition of anonymity ultimately decide to speak on the record after doing the interview.

And be clear about who you are and the purpose of your contact. As an outsider to the ultra-Orthodox community, Dube made sure people knew she was a reporter and had somewhat limited knowledge of the culture. If she didn’t understand a Yiddish or Hebrew word, she asked for clarification. She also found there were principles specific to the community that made speaking openly about sexual abuse more difficult, and learned to approach the subject without over-stepping.

Reporting the details of the charges on sex abuse cases makes a journalist legally vulnerable, Lombardi warns, so verify everything. When there is a documented case of abuse, get access to the documents. Lombardi not only seeks the court files, but tries to get access to other paperwork like personal letters and journal entries. And if there isn’t a paper trail to back up anecdotes, Lombardi suggests talking to the victim’s friends and family members, or other sources who may have known about the abuse.

About

About

The Journalism Center on Children & Families (JCCF) (1993-2014) was devoted to deepening media coverage on issues that affect children, youth and families, particularly the disadvantaged. JCCF provided an array of informational services and connected professional journalists, students and advocates to an extensive network of journalists and content experts. JCCF was based at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

What We Did

JCCF curated daily news content and cutting-edge research about children and families from a wide variety of media, government, academic and public policy sources. The Center provided guidance to journalists seeking sources, tips, experts, data or assistance with ethical dilemmas.

History

JCCF was launched in 1993 with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to create a professional community of practice for reporters whose primary beat was covering children and families. Over 21 years, JCCF offered conferences and fellowship programs to enhance skills and knowledge on a variety of issues, from juvenile justice to preschool education, welfare reform to health care. With support from the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Center created “Beyond The Headlines,” an in-depth resource for reporting on child sexual abuse. The Center produced “When a Child Dies,” an interactive online training module to assist reporters covering child deaths. And, the Center created "LIFELINES: Stories from the Human Safety Net," which included original reporting and resources for reporting on social work.

Find an Expert

Looking for the right person to talk to or interview for your story? Connect with thousands of vetted experts who are informed and media-ready. See our experts now.

Best Practices

The best way to learn is by doing. The next best way is by listening, watching, and observing. Journalists who cover the complex issues affecting children, youth and families have a wealth of experiences and insights. JCCF tapped into this expertise and shared their lessons learned in an series or stories called “Best Practices.”

Training Modules

JCCF offered training for established and emerging journalists. Our in-depth modules include facts, tips, guidelines and resources to help you do journalism better.

Children's Beat Magazine

JCCF once published a print magazine featuring commentary, resources and best practices from journalists in the field. That magazine ceased publication years ago, but you can access the archive and find excellent coverage of the challenges facing reporters on the “Children’s Beat.”